Min Ko Naing, a leader of the 88 Generation Students Group, speaks during a press conference at a shopping mall on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Rangoon.(PHOTO Associated Press)
RANGOON — Prominent student activists recently released from prison say they will work with political reformers and support pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in upcoming by-elections.
Min Ko Naing said Saturday the 88 Generation Students Group will always side with those who strive for “fairness, freedom and equality” and join hands with supporters of President Thein Sein’s reforms.
His colleague Kyaw Min Yu read a statement supporting Suu Kyi at the first 88 Generation news conference since the activists were released Jan. 13. They also called for remaining political prisoners to be freed, exiled activists welcomed back and ethnic conflicts to be ended.
The name refers a failed democracy uprising in 1988 that resulted in long prison terms for the activists.
Min Ko Naing (centre), a student leader from Burma’s failed 1988 pro-democracy uprising, is welcomed home after Friday’s mass release of political prisoners. Photo / AP
For a long time, it was easy for us to hold an opinion on Burma. It fitted neatly into the classic dichotomy of go
od and evil. The regime – made up of cruel, despotic military generals – was bad, and Aung San Suu Kyi and
the huddled masses of Burmese people she led were good.
The country seemed like an iron-clad monolith to the durability of repression – a case study in how totalitarianism and suffering could continue despite the odds.
When Suu Kyi was released from house arrest in late 2010 there was much cause for celebration, yet we remained sceptical. Read the rest of this entry »
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton & Burmese Democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton personally delivered a letter from President Barack Obama to Burma’s leading democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi Thursday. Here is the letter in full as released by the State Department:
Aung San Suu Kyi
Rangoon, Burma
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi:
It was a pleasure and an honor to speak with you recently. As I said during our conversation, I have long admired your brave and unwavering struggle for democracy, and I consider our conversation a highlight of my recent visit to Asia.
I am pleased that the Burmese government has taken several encouraging steps in the direction of democracy and reform. Secretary of State Clinton’s visit will explore how the United States can support efforts to foster political opening and respect for universal human rights, as well as demonstrate the seriousness of our commitment to helping the people of Burma achieve their democratic aspirations.
I thank you for your welcome of the Secretary’s visit, and look forward to speaking to you again. Thank you for the inspiration you provide all of us around the world who share the values of democracy, human rights, and justice. We stand by you now and always.
The imprisoned Myanmar Well-known comedian Zarganar was released from MyitKyiNa Prison this morning (Wednesday, 12 October 2011). Zarganar will be arrive back to Yangon this afternoon by flight. In November 2008, Zarganar was sentenced to 59 years in prison, convicted of “Public order offenses”, because he went to the Irrawaddy delta to help cyclone victims and criticized the Junta’s slow relief response. On 16 February 2009, following the appeals by the family, Yangon Divisional Court reduced the prison sentence by “up to 24 years”, bringing the sentence down to 35 years. In December 2008, Zarganar has been sent to MyitKyiNa Prison in Kachin State.
Activists in Rangoon attempted to march on Sept. 26 to mark the 4th Anniversary of the 2007 Saffron Revolution. But police blocked the proceeding! If freedom of assembly is a fundamental part of democratic rights, then what kind of democracy is in Burma now!!!
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi sits down with VOA Editor, Khin Soe Win, who had the first chance to visit the country in 15 years. They discuss the release of political prisoners, the recent government’s open invitation to exiles to come back home, international sanctions on Burma and development and aid.
US Special Envoy to Burma Derek Mitchell meets pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon on Monday (Photo: Irrawaddy)
Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi held talks with US Special Envoy and Policy Coordinator for Burma Derek Mitchell in Rangoon on Monday over possible development assistance for education and health, according to her party spokesman.
National League for Democracy (NLD) spokesman Ohn Kyaing told The Irrawaddy on Monday: “Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the general secretary of the NLD, held talks with Mr Derek Mitchell for about 40 minutes discussing Burma’s aspirations including possible humanitarian aid for education and health.”
It is the first time the Nobel Laureate has highlighted the issue of US aid in public. But Ohn Kyaing declined to elaborate any further regarding their discussions by saying, “That’s all I can tell the media at the moment about the meeting.”
However, other NLD sources said Suu Kyi and Mitchell also exchanged views on efforts for genuine political reform and national reconciliation other than just development and aid issues.
After her meeting with Mitchell, Suu Kyi briefed the media but did not reveal any details.
“The meeting with US Special Envoy Mr Derek Mitchell was not like our meetings with other officials including Senator John McCain [in June],” Suu Kyi told reporters. However, she did not disclose how the encounter with the US delegation was different this time around. Read the rest of this entry »
Phyo Sithu with his mother following his release from prison, Sept. 2, 2011.
Burmese military officials free two young men to their families following international intervention.
The Burmese military, notorious for recruiting under-aged fighters, has released two child soldiers to their families following pressure from a global labor rights watchdog.
Zaw Wai Lin, 16, and Nay Ye Lin, 15, who were conscripted into different military units, were both allowed to leave their barracks on Friday after each had spent nearly a year in forced service.
Both children had been the subject of RFA coverage after their parents reported the boys missing and local rights group Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP) filed cases on their behalf with the International Labor Organization (ILO). Read the rest of this entry »
Tomas Ojea Quintana , UN human rights envoy to Burma, talks during press conference at Rangoon International Airport on Aug. 25, 2011. (Photo: AP)
Despite growing expectations that a breakthrough on the issue of political prisoners was imminent, UN envoy to Burma Tomás Ojea Quintana leaves the country with no guarantees for their release. According to state-run The New Light of Myanmar (NLM), officials in Naypyidaw told the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Thursday that “political prisoners will be released when they are certain not to disrupt the nation’s stability and peace.” The statement was reportedly made by Upper House Speaker Khin Aung Myint in response to a question by Quintana regarding the detention of political prisoners and Shan politicians, land confiscations, and the teaching of ethnic languages at schools. On Friday, NLM quoted Khin Aung Myint as saying: “The present government is very moderate; that any government [sic] does not want to put its people behind bars, sacrificing the labor of the nation.” Read the rest of this entry »
